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Butler County board to solicit proposals for public defender position
Summary
With incumbent Tim Sopinski absent, the Butler County Board of Supervisors voted May 18 to solicit proposals for the county public defender contract, setting a June 10 deadline and asking HR to join interviews to review caseload averages.
Butler County supervisors voted May 18 to solicit proposals for the county public defender contract, saying they want comparative caseload data before choosing a term. The request for proposals is due June 10, 2026, and county HR will participate in post-deadline interviews.
County Attorney Julie Reiter told the board she did not know the average annual workload for the office but said "a two and/or four-year average can be obtained" to inform the process. Public Defender Tim Sopinski was unable to attend the meeting; attorney Brandon Svoboda had expressed interest in the position, the board noted.
Supervisor Scott Griess moved and Supervisor Tony Krafka seconded the motion to solicit proposals; the motion passed on a roll-call vote with Griess, Bauer, Krafka, Vandenberg, Sypal and Steager voting Aye and one member absent. Human Resources Director Aida Hickman was asked to sit in on interviews following the June 10 deadline.
Why it matters: the public defender contract determines who represents indigent defendants in county proceedings and the board said it wants caseload comparisons to neighboring counties before deciding whether to change the contract length or provider. The board also noted it must follow the process required by state statute for appointment and contracting.
The board did not make a final appointment at the May 18 meeting; the solicitation deadline and interview schedule are the next steps.
